Means for measuring and controlling fluid pressures



" June4, 1940. F. E. O'NEILL Er AL l 2,203,577

MEANSFQR mmsumne AND coNTnoLmNG FLUID PREssuREs lfilgadf Jan. 3, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY n Patented June i `aziias'zv s MEANS FonMEAsUBINGaND coN'rltol.-` M u rma PaEssUnEs d i f "Frank onrein, Glendale, (and nowiana G.

hHOmAIMHIMCSBL;asslgnors to Morillon` 0., ,JdhnstmnL Glendale, Calif,`

d s .4imilligrams` ranuaryfs', 193s, serial No. `183,156

. l l l, i d i i s claims, (ci. isa-1) r'lhis 'invention lrela-ttes to the boring and test-s` m ing of `oil wells `and particularly `pertainsto means tor measuring `and controlling fluid pres-` eures." l drilling of m of casing shoes "for leaks it isjcommon practice to `usefa testing device `torniaking formation tests and for" ascertaining whether or not a `case` lnglshoe has properly sealed" thesend` of `ianoilg `weil, casing. In connectionfwlth these testing devices `within which fiuidmay be entrapped, it

isfoftenthe practice toassociate` afiuid pressure i recording `device with the "testing tool so that the 'prssure of the "fluid occurring below the packer ofthe testingtool `maybe ascertained while the assembled structure" isl being i used `to enti-ap a i `sample of the actual lluid present inthe well prior i' to withdrawing it from `the weil. i In` the operat .i tions olsuch structures and `particularly `when` they areusedin makinga test Aof` the formation l inzthe open well bore it is evident thattthedrilliiigssfiuid within nies weliwiii graduaiiy lirici-ense` in hydrostatic head as the lpressure recording" defs viceis progressively loweredthrough the iluidto ias`eat in the formation, and that twhen the testing tool with its packer has been lowered "and s `set on the formationseat,`theipressure eifect of` the hyrlfostaticfhead or nuid'within the weil :wili

s berelieved but the iluid entrapped below the pack`` l er willfbe at a high pressure; When the valveof i the tester is then suddenly opened the spressure `of the s entrapped uid will be suddenly released `as `the iluidilows t'l'iroughthe4 valve and up intol` s the drill pipe,`which pipe is at atmospheric pres`` sure. `'Ihissudden` pressure drop will impose an instant force upon the pressure recording rnechl `anisrn which force willbeof greatmagnitudeand,

\ s will tend to rupture `the "pressure i responsive means or act upon itin `a manner tocause it` to `4.0 taire a permanent set in whichcase the pressure,`

responsive means will then be inaccurate when used in subsequent tests.` It is therefore. de-

isirable to provide `means for preventing this sud#` den` release' oi.v pressure or.` controlling the same 5 for? gradiiaireiease, and it is the principal omda` of `the "present invention to provide means which i will automatically act tof gradually l release i the `:lluid which `is under` pressure within the shutd in portion of the device, and` which gradual 'rei `50;lease` is here-brought about by a structure with which the present 1inventionfis"particularly con#l eenied. i i? s i The presentiinventioncontemplates the prol, vision of an automatically` adjustable flow bean 515` whichacts in response `to fluid under pressure tograduailyopen and permit fluid to flowithrough a conduit, the bean inthe formation of the invention here shown being capable of use in com- .To `cordixigdevice. i

bi1 `weils `and m the, testina i `March 19, 1937, `alld entitled The invention is illustrated by way of example in the `accomrninyirig drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a pipe to which `is `attached a form of` welltesting tool, together `with a pressure re`` cording s device and f automatic flow bean with which the invention is concerned.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view shovv-` A ing the "adjustable `ow bean unit in central lon` gitudinal section and with the adjustable ele'-` ment in its closed position. i l

Fig.` 3 is a view in partial central sectionof the; flow bean"` unit shown -in Fig. 2 with "the sleeve* shown inelevation and the adjustable bean element indicated by dottedwlines asbeing `in an open position.

Fig.` `4 is a view in transversesection through the structure as seen on the'line` 4-4 of Fig. 2. `Fig.5 isla view lntransversesectionas seen on the line Bj-S or Fig. 2 and shows the emergency circulating` valve arrangement; l

Fig.` 6` is a, graph showing `the usual response of a pressure recording device in a well test and the response `obtained bythe use of the present ,inventions 1 i i i Referring` more4 particularly to the drawings,` `Il) indicates a pipe `or`d`ri1l string extending downwardlypfrom'the top of theV well and provided with a collar Ii to which" is attached a trip valve unit I3. This unit carries "a mandrel Il which extends downwardlyinto the:` housing `II of a l tester 'main valve structure. `The trip valve structure I3 `and the mainv vaive'structure I5 .may berofany `suitable design, although itis desirable to Amake itof Athe general type shown in Patent No. 2,073,107issu`ed to M. O. Johnston, Well testing method and apparatusftherefor. s s s Mountedybelow the testing assemblyis allow bean structure" to whicha 'packer I1 is attached and `beneath which a perforated nipple Il i is disposed: Within the nipple, or `within a section at a desired point between the trip valve and the nipple, such for example as the section 20, is a -fluid pressure recording device `2i installed for `example in the United States Patent No; 2,161,233

issued torrank n. o'Neiil, June 6, 1939, and entitiedWeil testing device. This device is charac-f terizedbythe fact that it embodiesa fluid pressure responsive element acting upon a chart toI make a" permanent `record of the iluid'pressure conditionsf existing within the wellgsuchsfor example "as shown in patent to Marx, No. 1,955,855,

s issued April24; 1934. Itis tobe understood that l `while theiiow bean structure ishere shown and described `asbeingused in connection `with a well testing tool and a pressure recording device, that it is within the concept of thepresent invention to utilize l the `ilow bean structure separate1y,-"or

s to` useit in connection with a testing toolseparately. or a pressure recording device separately. 'I'he details ofA construction of the. various elements with which the flow bean structure may be used will nottherefore be set forth, other than to state that the pressure recording device 2| is equipped with auid responsive element upon which the force of the pressure of the fluid within the well is imposed, and that the well testing tool is equipped with a valve mechanism which may be opened suddenly to permit fluid to 'ow into j the well from the area below the packer to and through the testing tool structure and upwardly` into the string of pipe i0. The automatic flow bean is particularly shown in Figs. 2 to 5 of the drawings where it will be seen that it comprises anv outerl tubular housing 22 having a threaded box 23 at its upper end and a threaded pin 24' at its lower end. It will of course be vunderstood that thesemale and female connections may be reversed and that-other coupling means vmay be utilized if desired. Connected to the pin 24 is a valve housing 25 which carries a pin 26 at its lower end. Thetubular housing is formed with a central passageway 21 therethrough which re-V ceives a flow bean sleeve 28. The `outer diameter of this sleeve is sufliciently less than the diameter of the central passageway t provide ioran annular flow space 29 between the sleeve and the wall of the passageway. The sleeve has a` threaded portion 30 at its lower end which is threaded into a centralthreaded bore 3| of .a housing 25 and threadedly engaged with a :plurality of spaced valve cages 3,21seated in spaced threaded bores in housing 25. i 'Ihe valve cage A32 is preferably `formedwith an exteriorthread and is threaded into the valve housing25 as indicated at 33. c The valve cages are feach formed with a longitudif nally extending passageway 34, and are arranged inj circular spaced relation to each other around a central passageway 36, the wall at thegupperj -end of'which carries the threads 30. The passageways 34 are bypass circulating passageways y tobeused for emergency purposes, and are held normally in a closed position by valve balls 36 which bear against valve seats 31. Springs yieldably hold the balls inplace and these springs are in turn held in position by hollow threaded i thimbles 39 mounted in the lower endsv vof the` passageways 734.v4 Each of vthese thimbles thus .provides an opening 4'9 f or the ow-V of fluid.` Otheropenings 4I are formed through the `sidey walls of the bore 34 at points below the position of the valve balls 36 and their seats 31 and above the thimbles 39.

Y i i Aninterior passageway 42 is formed through the owbean sleeve,k 28. This passageway ris open at its lower end and at its upper end is fitted Vwith al closure disc 43 which isthreaded into the upper end of the sleeve 2.3 to close the same andA is provided with a relief duct 44. l 'I'he duct` 44 is relatively sinall in diameter as compared with the diameter of the, passageway 42 and will thus'retard the flow of uid fromwithin the sleeve 26 for a purpose tobe hereinafter. set

"forth At a suitable positionadjacent the lower endof the passageway 42 an annular inwardly extending shoulder 46 is provided. This shoulder limits the downwardmovement of a freely re. ciprocable flow bean element k46 positioned withinthe ysleeve 2l. The flow ,beanelement substanftiailyflts'withinthebore 42above the shoulder 46andis Vprovided with ring-shapedpacking members 41 vwhichform a fluid tight seall between` the flowA bean element 46! and the inner circumferential wall of the passageway 42, The

sacaste'k packing members are held in position by nuts 49. which are threaded on to the opposite end of the valve element 46. It will thus be seenvthat by this arrangementthe valve element 46 acts as a piston reciprocable within dash-pot 49 occurring within the sleeve 23 between the upper end of the member 46 and` the closure disc 43. Formed through the side walls of the flow bean sleeve 23 are a plurality of V-shaped flow' bean slots 66. As shown in Fig. 4 offthe drawings four such slots Vare provided. It will' be understood that the number of slots may. be selected for the particular workto be done. yEach of these slots is in vthe form of an inverted equilateral triangle, the base portion I of which is uppermost and the side walls 52` lof which diverge .uniformly and equally/from theapex of the triangle upwardly while th slots themselvesv are longitudinally aligned with relation to the central axis of the sleeve 29. Thus as the valve element 46 moving upwardly the slots will be progressively uncov- ,v

ered and will progressively increase in area in relationto the pressure exerted by theiluid en-,K l

tering, the passageway 36 and passing into ther lowerend of the'sleeve passageway 42.

, In the operation ofthe present invention the specic Operation of the automatic flow bean unit will be described first with 'reference to Figs. 2 and 3." It willk be seen that fluidunder pressure l Lwill be admittedthrough the passageway 63 at the lowerl end of the valve housing. 26. .This fluid `then flows upwardly through passageway. into l the lower open endof passageway 42 of the now bean sleeve 23. -The pressure ofy this, uid will be exerted against the end face of the reciprocating valve element 4,6, which 'element is held in its, c

t lowermost position by srvity. I t may also occurA` that the dash-potv 49 has been previouslyA filled with a liquid so that when the valve member 46 is moved the liquid within the dash-pot. willbe displaced through kthefrelief passageway 44. Due to the restricted sizeof the opening 4'4 thefmovement of the valve element 4l will be rey-v tarded. AAs the valve element 46 moves upwardly under influence of the pressure of the iluid fbe-' low the Vvalve element the slots r6l will progressivelyopen.`

When a flow bean ofithe` automatic typeas here shown is assembledin connection v-with `a well testing device, such as the units generally indicated at Iland i6, or with such4 a devicey and a pressure recording device, such as generally. indicated at 2i, the automatic flow bean unit Ill. is disposed at a pointfbelow the trip valve I3 andpreferably below the main valveunit I6. At

this point attention is directed tothe fact that v the automatic flow bean may be used to advantage with a testing structure alone, for in such a case the suddenrele'ase of fluid pressure from beneath..V the packer I1 and through the drill string i0 ,to atmospheric ypressure causes an ob# jectionable surge of fluid which may disturb the structure and the stability of the geological formation `from which .the fluid flows. This would tend tocause a caveliny and to causedebris to flow into the perforated nipple and tend to clog the same. By the use of the flow bean with `a testing device the inrush of fluid would be gradually resistedand 4controlled in a ymanner to eliminate an obJectionable surge of fluid or a sudden evacuation of fluid .from the testing area. When the pressure recording device is used with the testing tool' and the pressure is suddenly released the automatic flow bean will act in the same manner but will prevent sudden shock from being imi afgradual increase inf` pressure to be upon fluid 4responsive means;` and also fori permitl ting aigradual releaseofpressure from anfaireav l o of high pressure toa lowerpressure 'area with--` U i would be seirimentslitbthesreafrom wiiienthef pressure relievedcr which wouldtend to` u i l l p i t A ganas?? posed upon theinstrumentl` This is illustrated struction of the apparatus without departing in `theligraph; shown `in; Fig. 6 ,of the, drawings,

where `a indicates the pointatuwhich the tool isef started :down into` the weiland l into the fluid V l tools within the wellbore.

"it win thus i be seen `iiiiitfuie nieihedjoi iure;` cedure herel shown and the "apparatus` utilisedfor carrying out this method; provide" simple and effective automatically acting means for permitting out creating a `violent disturbance or forcewhich damage or -Whiie weh apparatus withwhlch the present invention may be practiced,` and have described the preferred fender www the sur www he made by those skilled in the` artjin the conave shown the preferred form of` from the spirit `of therinvention asclaimed.

Having thus `described our invention, what we claim and desire secure by i Letters Patent is; i

3i Ameteringvalve structure for in comblnatiomwithlioil well testing apparatus com-i a fluid may ilow. a tubular valve sleeve mounted the lower end of the-valveisleeve lforming a'seal `with the housing, `hierthewsu of said valve sleeve having i passageways therethrough to peri mit iluidgto passln through thevlowerfend and `thenoutwardly through the passageways-in' the sleeve and upwardlythrough the" housing, a mov--` i i ablefvalve member `slidablewithin thersleeve to being ritutomatically responsivelto `huid under pressureftomove it toun` opened position ln i direct proportionto `said pressure wherebyfthe. i method of procedurefor `utilizing said apparatus, i

, l l itis to be understood that various changes might i i "Il volume of nuid the' structure will be `automatically `metered in" direct relation `l column `withl which 1 the well is lled. As the y i l. In combination, aistring of pipe adaptedwbe 5 `hydrostaticzheadincreases1thegraph lineb "will A; lowered into awelland being in communication -begraduitlly` formed on the pressurezrecording withthe atmosphere` at its upperyend, atesting chart. w'lheipointic indlcatesatheyposition at;` toolgcarried atthelowerwendxgofsthe "stringofl` which thepacker I1 isseti The line d indicates i pipailiditool having apassagewaytherethrough,` i l0` the l interval. at which thewpacker` shutsjofi?` the a valve normallyclcsing thepassagewana packer l0 `coluinngflhe pointe indicatesthepoint at which carried` by the Vtool to form afluidtight seal hef` the trip valvein the trip valve unit I3 is suddenly tweenthe wall of the well lbore aroundthe l i `openediil'lhe dotted :line fjindicatesythe usuali tool, ag metering valve disposed in `the path of graphxline made when theiztrip valvelszsuddenlv` iluid flowing throughthe testingtool when its l opened andthe pressurelinstantly` drops `as the valve iskopened,isaid metering valve comprising -15 pressure iluidllpassesupwardlythrough the trip a perforated element through which uid y valve and intothestemorltubing il. `The line g` `flowfroxnbeneath the testing toolztolthe string" indicates the graphline made when'the automatic i of pipe thereabovel; a valve `element positioned now bean I! is utilizediwiththe structure. Here within saidxperforate element movingin relation i it willbe'seenthat the pressure is gradually rea i tollthe memberi having the perforated opening; `2|) r fflievedfas comparedwiththe suddenrelief indiand `being capableofprogressively increasing the i catedwbyvthegdotted dine f. The `graph :line h; areaof lthe fluidiV passageway-through the per; `indicatestheipressurerdurihgthe perioduwhile v foratedopenings as themovable valveelement l `the testervalves are held open and direct comis moved by; the pressure of theiiuidexcrted i g5 `mlmicatiqnq15 estbnshedg; between `i-,helpmeu il thereagainst and which `fluid flows from the area u Vandlthe arealbelowthepackertil. graph i benethlltheytesting toolto the stringpof pipe i lineyiiindicates i the `progressive` .building `up ofgl` thereabove,` and:` means yieldably resisting the `pressure through the iiow bean structure it after movement ofthe movable valveelementl p i l N1 thewvalve in "theymainvalveunitvllqhas been l i Zehnmeteringivalve structure for usefin `com`` clcsed,xbut`` before the; packer il is ,withdrawn bination\with oil `well testing apparatus com- 3 i from its seat.` Thusthe pointij will indicate the v Drlsing an `outertubular housing through wuchs;

closed-in pressure of the well.` Ihe line `lc indilllid may 110W, B tubular valve sleeve mounted `cates the periodthericlosed-in pressure is yheldv "Within Said hOuSing and being spaced therefromf i whilefthe` line@ l indicates .the increased pressure? thelower endlofthe valve sleeve `forming a ssafter the packer has beenvwithdrawn from its with theghousinspand they wall of `said valve," i seat and the pressure of the 4fluid column has sleeve having passageways-therethrough to perbeenfreimposed `upon theiiilllengthofwelltand mitfluidtopasS' l!!` through the lower end and the line "m` indicates lfthe gradual reduction in i lh'm outwardly through the ewaysin the i i pressure "asthe tool'` is withdrawn from the well l Sleeve and upwardly through thelhousingm mov- 1 4Q and elevated'in the fiuidcolumn.` l l able VlvmemberSlidablewithin'theslagveld-Q50` l'f'hecirculaticn in an oil` wellfistemporarily CODtl'Ol the elll'five.` Sile 0f the eway'swf interrupted suringtnemskingef the testeinee through tnes1eeveaid1m0vble valve `elenilllti "jtheppackerll'l is setin the`1wel1. yUnder" :some l heinklllltolllililcilll!` respnsivewtuluid i femergencies it is desirableto instantly re-estab- Dressul'eomfvelt tallopehedpitivni direct i `lish` circulation." "That is` dcnehin the` present propol'lontofsaidlprellre whereby the vDllllne `case byforcing drillingiiluidfdown through thef 20! `iluid pasailtthroughthe structure` will be stem "Il `:imi the peeking teer mdeliver stemmi;y automatically, metered inldireetrelation` tu its `ward pressureagainst thefviilve` balls 3l sothat Dressur@ passageway around the seal between iluid may" flow `thxouglithepassageways 34 and the Valve sleeve and `thefhoursing whereby Hull!` thencedownwardly'and outwardly throu'ghthe may: fiowdirectlvthroush thephollinsfwlthdutm i i perforated nipple `into thewell bore. `The packer OwthrOush thevalve sleeve.` and a checkl valve l wheniraised will permitthlsil'uidto thenfiow up in Said `@Way` fOr Permitting fluid to now aroundthe -pipe Il `to the top ofthe wen; :This therethroughin a counterdirectionto thenormal i winaid in sieiodging o the packer iiitsnss become direction of the flow 0f fluid thrvush the ihuusins "sa stucktinthelwell and will prevent lossof the fulmine vlveleevewx" `prising iin` outerutubular housingthrough which within said housing andbeing spaced therefrom. o

eentro1 *the effective :sise of the i through the sleeve, `said movable valve* element-` toits pressure. apassageway the seal be- "i 4, Y tween the valve sleeveand the housing wherebyv fluid may ilowdirectly through the housing withvout iiow through the valve sleeve, and a check valve rin said 'passageway for permittingl fluid to flow' therethrough in a counterdirection to the normal direction of the ilowof fluid through the e housing and the'valve sleeve, said movable valvev element being in the'lform ofa reciprocating piston mounted"withinthesleeva thesleeve being formed with a dash-pot at its upper end to ably resist th'e movement of the piston.

' 4. Inv` combination with a string of pipe adaptedy yield-4 to be lowered into a 'well bore, said pipe having," communication with the well bore at its lower end, 'a fluid flow regulating and metering device? interposed inthe lower end of said string of pipe, said fluid ilow regulating device including a conduit establishing communication between the high pressure area of the well bore below said device andY the vlow `pressure areaof ther drill string abovefsaid device, a valve structure therein .having a perforat valve shell, said valve shell being closed `at its upperV end, a movablevalve element within said 'shell adapted to move in response to the fluid pressure in the highpressure area below .said structure to cause the perforations in 'the shell to beprogressivelyuncovlered in direct relation to the pressure exerted Y comprising 'a tubular sleeve having a central passagewayconnected to said drillpipe below said `packer establishing communication Abetween the high pressure area created when said packer is setto'the low pressure area above `said Ypackerv and within said string of drill pipe', a valve structure positioned-,within said' passageway having ai perforate valve. shell, said valve shell being closed' at itsupper end,.a movable valve element therein adaptedto movein response to fluid pressure exerted, by the high pressure area beneath said packer wherebyzthe perforations inthe valve shell` will be progressively uncovered in direct relation to' the pressure exerted upon the valve element by D the pressure fluid, and fluid control-means comprising a relatively small opening in said closure at the upper end of the shell for yieldably resisting movement of the valve element as fluid pres` sureis exerted against the valve element.

6. A'iluid flow regulating land Ametering device for use in combination with a stringo! drill pipe carrying a ywell packer thereon, said flowy device comprising a tubular sleeve having a central passageway connected to said drill pipebelow said packer establishing communication between the high pressure area created when said lpacker is set to thelow pressure, area above said packer andwithin said string of drill pipe, a valve stmoture positioned within said passageway having a periorate .valve shell, said valve shell having a closure at its upper end,a movablevvalve element therein adapted to move in response to fluid pres'- sure` in the high Vpressure area beneathrsaid packer whereby the perforations in the .valve shell vwill be progressively uncovered in direct rea,aos,o77 y v Y lation to the pressure exerted upon the valve element by the pressure fluid, fluid control means comprising a relatively small opening in said closure at the uppery end of the shelll for yieldably resistingmovement of the valve element as fluid pressure is exerted against A'the valvev ele-` ment, anda normallyclosed valve means adapted to be opened by pressure exerted from the-lower pressure area to the high pressure area to estab lish a counter-filow of `fluid through'y the drill string.

7. In combination with a string of pipe adapted to belowered into a wellbore,` said pipe -having communication with the well `bore aty its lower end, a fluid ow regulating and meteringy device` interposed in the lower endl of said string ofpipe.

said fluid regulating device including a conduit establishing communication betweeniy the high pressure Aarea of the well bore below said device andfthe low pressure yarea of the drill string above said device, a valve structure therein hav-.-v

ing a perforate valve shell, a closure for the upper end of lsaid valve shelll having a relatively small.,`

opening therethrough, a movable valve', element within the said shell adaptedto move inl responso` to theiluid pressure in the highzpressure area below saidvstructure to `cause the perforationslin the shell vto be progressively uncovered in direct relation yto the pressure exerted upon `the movfable valve element by the pressure yof fluid within the high pressure area, said opening of the shell4 closure yieldably resisting movement ofthe valve element as fluid pressure is `exerted 4against :the`

valve element;to move the same whereby said valvewill be gradually opened.

8. In combination with a string of pipe adapted tombgeglowered into awell bore, saidpipe having lcm'imunication with the wen boreV at. its lower end, a fluid flow regulating and metering device interposed in thelower end of'said string of pipe,

saidA fluid regulating device includinga conduit establishing communication ,between the ,high pressure area of the wellv bore below said `device ,and the. lowpressure area of the drill string, above said device, a val-ve vstructure therein having a,

perforate valve shell, 'a closure for the upper end of said valve shell having la relatively smallopening therethrough, a movable valveelement within the said shell adapted to move. in response to thev fluid` pressure inthe high pressure areaybelow said structure to cause the perforations in the.

shell to be progressively uncovered in direct relation to the pressure exerted upon the movable valve element by the pressure of fluid Awithin they high pressure area, said opening of the shell closure yieldably` resisting movement of the valve element' as fluid pressure is exerted against the valve element to rrmove the same whereby said valve will beggraduallyopened, and a normally closed valve means comprising a passageway around theyseal between the valve sleeve and the central passageway of the tubular sleeve whereby fluid may 4:llow directly through the housing without ilowthrough` the.` valve sleeve, said. valve means being. operated by pressureexerted by a counterv flow of fluid from the low pressure area to the high pressure areatopestablishA a flow of uid in a counter direction to the normal direction of ilow of fluid through `the7 housing and the valve sleeve.l ,v e

moNEnL.

G. wHEAL'roN. 

